Materials

Main colour: 50g / 125m ball DK yarn
(100% wool or a yarn with a high wool content to give the hat plenty of stretch. )

Contrast colour: 50g/ 125m ball DK yarn.
(100% wool or a yarn with a high wool content to give the hat plenty of stretch.)

I used Rico Design Lifestyle DK yarn.

Tension: 25 sts = 10cm in 2×2 rib, unstretched.

The hat will be very stretchy, so tension isn't too critical, just make sure the unstretched hat is a little smaller than your head.

Cast On & Join in the Round

With main colour, cast on 121 stitches. ( You'll knit the 1st and last stitch together to join the round and then work on 120 stitches)

Make sure your chosen cast on method is stretchy and not too tight. The long tail cast on is ideal.

Divide the stitches between 2 short circular needles or 3 double pointed needles.

Whatever your chosen method, ensure the stitches aren't twisted. (i.e. When your cast on is in a circle ready to be joined the cast on edge should be neatly on the inside of the circle, not twisted around the needles at any point.)You may find it helps to lay your work out on a flat surface.

Put the first and last stitch together at the tip of the left needle and place a marker to indicate the beginning of the round. (As shown in photo on left.)

Join for working in the round by holding the yarn tail and the working yarn together and knitting the first and last stitch together. (As shown in photo on right.)

(Make sure you treat this double stranded stitch as a single stitch when starting your next round)

K1, P2. Continue in K2, P2 ribbing to end of round.

Rounds 2-9

*K2, P2 **, repeat from * to ** .

Round 10

Change to contrast colour. Knit all stitches.

Round 11

Slip 1st stitch purlwise, K1, P2. *K2, P2 **, repeat from * to ** .

Round 12

*K2, P2 **, repeat from * to ** .

Round 13

Change to main colour. Knit all stitches.

Round 14

Slip 1st stitch purlwise, K1, P2. *K2, P2 **, repeat from * to ** .

Round 15

*K2, P2 **, repeat from * to ** .

Round 16

Change to contrast colour. Knit all stitches.

Round 17

Slip 1st stitch purlwise, K1, P2. *K2, P2 **, repeat from * to ** .

Round 18 – 23

*K2, P2 **, repeat from * to ** .

Round 24

Change to main colour. Knit all stitches.

Round 25

Slip 1st stitch purlwise, K1, P2. *K2, P2 **, repeat from * to ** .

Round 26-27

*K2, P2 **, repeat from * to ** .

Round 28

Change to contrast colour. Knit all stitches.

Round 29

Slip 1st stitch purlwise, K1, P2. *K2, P2 **, repeat from * to ** .

Round 30

*K2, P2 **, repeat from * to ** .

Round 31

Change to main colour. Knit all stitches.

Round 32

Slip 1st stitch purlwise, K1, P2. *K2, P2 **, repeat from * to ** .

Round 33-44

*K2, P2 **, repeat from * to ** .

Round 45

*K2, P2tog**, repeat from * to ** . 90 stitches remaining.

Round 46-48

*K2, P1**, repeat from * to ** .

Round 49

*K2tog, P1**, repeat from * to ** . 60 stitches remaining.

Round 50

*K1, P1**, repeat from * to ** .

Round 51

*K2tog**, repeat from * to ** . 30 stitches remaining.

Round 52

*K2tog**, repeat from * to ** . 15 stitches remaining.

Round 53

*K2tog, K1**, repeat from * to ** . 10 stitches remaining.

Finishing

Cut yarn leaving approx. 20 cm tail of yarn.

Kitchener stitch / graft the top of the hat together. I use the 'on the needle' Kitchener stitch / grafting method. There is an explanation here.

Weave in the yarn tails.

If you hate Kitchener stitch / grafting you can do another round of K2tog to have 5 stitches remaining. Cut yarn leaving a 10cm tail and then use a darning needle to draw the yarn through the remaining stitches and gently pull the hole closed.